Portable and adjustable stand



Sept 10, 1957 Filed June 29, 1954 L. LEVITAN ET AL PORTABLE AND ADJUSTABLE STAND 2 Sheet-Sheet 1 4 B REGwALo Lowe PzRKW MW -r-roRA/EK Sept 10, 1957 Filed June 29, 1954 L. LEVITAN ET AL 2,805,905

PORTABLE AND ADJUSTABLE STAND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. 1.5a LEV/TAN- REGINALD LOU\$ PEQ Ams BY a /W rrakrva'f nite States Patent PORTABLE AND ADJUSTABLE STAND Leo Levitan and Reginald Louis Perkins, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Application June 29, 1954, Serial No. 440,158 2 Claims. Cl. 311-39 The present invention pertains to a novel portable and adjustable stand suitable for supporting various objects such as artists materials, doctors and hospital equipment, barbecue materials and the like, but disclosed herein as a tool box.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of this character useful in various shops and plants in which a handy tool box is needed. An illustration is found in work on motor vehicles, aircraft and the like, in garages, service stations, factories and other shops. In such work, not only should the tool box be portable, but it could be used more effectively and conveniently if capable of being supported at various levels.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a tool box that can be adjusted to various levels. This object is accomplished primarily by mounting the tray of the device on lazy tongs which in turn are provided on a base fitted with casters. The tongs are locked at various heights by a mechanism constituting another feature of the invention and described in detail below.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby the tray may be converted to a bench or working surface. For this purpose, lid sections are engaged on opposite edges of the tray to swing inward and form a continuous surface covering the tray. Suitable means are provided for retaining and locking the lid sections in one plane.

The invention also provides a mechanism for latching the tray to the base when the lazy tongs are collapsed. In this condition the tool box is preferably closed by the lid sections as described and easily carried from place to place as any conventional tool box.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

The invention is fully disclosed by way of example in the following description and in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in raised position;

Figure 2 is a plan view;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an exploded detail perspective View;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a top plan view of the base.

Reference to these views will now be made by use of like characters which are employed to designate corresponding parts throughout.

In Figure 1 is shown a base 1 in the form of a rectangular frame mounted on casters 2. Within the base is secured a guide member comprising a longitudinal strip 3 lying midway between the ends of the frame 1 and having transverse parts 4 lying along the ends of the frame. The strip 3 is slotted lengthwise at 5, and one-half of each member 4 is slotted at 6 for a purpose that will presently be described.

Lazy tongs 7 comprised of crossed and pivotally joined links in the usual manner extend upward from the parts ice 4. The lower end of one of the lower links of each lazy tong is pivotally attached to one end of the corresponding part 4 by a suitable pin 8, and the lower end of the other lower link is slidably mounted in the corresponding slot 6 by a headed pin 9. The parts 4 are spaced from the adjacent ends of the frame 1 to receive the lower ends of the lazy tongs as shown.

On the upper ends of the lazy tongs is mounted a box or tray by a means that will be described. This member is formed preferably of metal shaped into two parallel channels 10 facing upwardly. The partition 11 between these channels is a double walled element forming a downwardly facing channel 12.

The channels are closed at each end by a plate 15 suitably fastened thereto and doubled downwardly and outwardly from its upper edge to form a vertical flange 16, which is slotted at 17 partially along its length. To one of the upper links of the lazy tongs 7 is pivotally attached an arm 18 received behind the corresponding flange 16 and fastened thereto at points 19, to support the tray 1012. The remaining upper link of each lazy tongs '7 carries a pin 20 slidably received in the corresponding slot 17.

On the outer surface of each flange 16 is pivotally attached a notched bar or rack 21 having its teeth 22 lying along the slot 17 and facing downwardly. The pivotal attachment is made at point 23 nearer one end of the bar, and the other end is formed with an arcuate slot 24 receiving a screw or pin 25 that extends into the flange 16. Thus, the pivotal movement of the bar is limited by the slot 24. The remaining ends of the bars 21 are joined by a tie bar 26 extending lengthwise of the tray for simultaneous movement of the bars 21. A continued upward movement of the handle bar 46 may be used to lift the tray while extending the lazy tongs.

It is now evident that the tray may be supported at selected levels within the range of the racks 21, as desired for various jobs. In lowering the tray, the racks are first lifted from the corresponding pins 20, and when the adjustment has been made, the racks are lowered to engage the pins 20 in the new position. In raising the tray, the racks need not be disengaged completely from the pins, since the rack teeth slide over the pins on the movement.

Additional support for the tray is provided by a third lazy tongs 30 between the lazy tongs 7 and perpendicular thereto. One of the lower links of the tongs 30 is pivoted at 31 to the strip 3, and the remaining lower link carries a pin 32 slidable in the slot 5. To the upper links of tongs 30 is attached a plate 33, one of these links being pivoted to the plate at 34 and the other link having a pin 35 slidable in a slot 36 in the plate. The lower edge of the plate 33 is flanged at 37, and when the plate is inserted in the space 12, the flange 27 is secured to the tray at points 38.

In this connection it may be noted that the several pins on the lazy tongs slidable in slots are preferably in the nature of double shouldered screws or studs engaging opposite sides of the slotted members for a well guided sliding movement. As a further refinement, the teeth 22 of theracks 21 may differ from conventional racks by being unequally spaced. The spacing of the teeth is determined in such manner as to adjust the tray in equal increments of height, notwithstanding the varying factor in the relation of the vertical and horizontal adjustments of the lazy tongs. The teeth 22, moreover, are directed angularly downward for a confined locking engagement with the pins 20 and for cam action against the pins in raising the tray. The weight of a loaded tray insures a sure lock. The tray may be lifted directly by the tie bar 26, inasmuch as such lifting automatically disengages the racks 21 from the pins 20.

Patented Sept. 10, 1957 The outer walls of thetray -12 are double flanged inwardly at from the upper edges for the attachment of lid sections 41 by piano type hinges 42. When formed inward, the sections 41 rest on clips or brackets 43 on the side walls of the channel 11. Dogs 45 are securely attached to the lid sections. When the sections are closed as in Figure 1, the dogs are swung so that each extends from its section to the other section, thereby bringing their apertures 45 into register to receive a padlock (not shown). The sections in this position serve the purpose of a bench surface. The top of the channel 11 may carry a central handle 46 for rolling the device or lifting it to various elevations or for carrying when locked in the collapsed position as will now be described.

To the bottom of the tray 10-12 is fastened a pair of angle brackets 50 through which is passed a clevis pin 51. On the pin is rotatably mounted a hooked latch 52 backed by a wire spring 53] The pin 51 is retained by a cotter pin 54. On the bottom flange 55 of the base 1 is secured a bevelled plate 56 engageable by the latch 52 on its downward movement, to guide the latch into hooking engagement with the bottom of flange 55.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be understood that various alterations in the details of construction will be made without departing from the scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. An adjustable stand comprising a base, lazy tongs having their lower ends attached to said base, a tray mounted on the upper ends of said tongs, slotted end plates on said tray, said tongs each having one of its upper links pivoted to an end plate and its remaining upper link slidably mounted in the slot of said plate, and a downwardly facing notched rack pivotally mounted near one of its ends on each of said slotted plates directly adjacent thereto and engageable adjustably with the slidably mounted link of the adjacent tongs, said end of each rack having a curved slot, and a pin in said slot and attached to the corresponding plate, whereby to limit the swinging movement of the rack.

2. An adjustable stand comprising a base, lazy tongs having their lower ends attached to said base, a tray structure mounted on the upper ends of said tongs, means on said tray for locking said tongs in various elevations, another lazy tongs mounted on said base at right angles to the first tongs said'tray structure having a downwardly facing channel, a slotted plate secured in said channel, the last named lazy tongs having its upper links respectively pivoted to said plate and slidably mounted in the 7 slot thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 239,876 Stark Apr. 15, 1881 434,240 Bon Aug. 12, 1890 1,088,419 Heyer Feb. 24, 1914 1,203,545 Moore Oct. 31, 1916 1,476,389 Blank Dec. 4, 1923 1,550,944 Beidler Aug. 25, 1925 2,080,441 Shoop May 18, 1937 2,156,148 Giacomo Apr. 25, 1939 r 2,340,540 Lange Feb. 1, 1944 2,426,514 Long Aug. 26, 1947 2,556,207 Mueller June 12, 1951 2,564,949 Bell Aug. 21, 1951 2,645,538 Segal July 14, '1953 

